3.28.26 Gussy and Buckee. The Spanish District. Flower. Tons of Missionaries! And an antler.

 Retired/Missionary Life. Sunday.

HAPPY SABBATH!!! Here! Have a Jesus Picture! He LOVES YOU!!

We went to Sacrament Meeting, Men's Meeting, Missionary Correlation Meeting. Were supposed to assist the Sister Missionaries with a lesson, but it cancelled at the last minute (the life of a missionary....).

Back at home, we took "day of rest" very seriously. After a tuna/tomato salad, I took a nice nap. Then got caught up on reading and studying. Before bed, we watched an episode of Heartland.

It's important for old people, even missionaries, to have a down afternoon every once in a while.....

Retired/Missionary Life. Monday.

Today is the one-year anniversary of the adoption of Gus into our family! What an AWESOME dog!! We immediately bonded and he now follows me absolutely everywhere and gets real whiny any time I leave him behind. He and Frivvy are best buds and play continually almost all day except for when they are napping together. We're so happy to have him in our home!

The big event today was to drive into town and attend the Senior Couple Missionary Pot Luck Dinner. Always fun times with the other older missionaries. The Mission President was happy when someone gave him a Buckee. And we had a great lesson on parables.

Hanna thought it was cool that all the snow is gone off of Mica Peak.

Retired/Missionary Life. Tuesday.

We started the day out with District Council Missionary Meeting. We had a couple of lessons, did some brainstorming, role played, and one of the Sister Missionaries brought some Cinnamon cake that was very delicious! This was our last meeting as a district as next week is transfers and things will probably get changed all around. We had to take the traditional picture. (below) These are some of the hardest working missionaries I have ever met or served with! It's not easy being a Spanish-speaking missionary in an English speaking town, but they totally have this. The Spanish District!

Hanna and I then had lunch at The Chalet. Then took the boys for a wet walk in a rainstorm. Picked up some groceries we needed at the store, picked up drugs at the pharmacy, and picked up white shirts at the Cleaners. Then we chilled for a bit and read in the truck until our lesson at 6.

Great sunset on the way home. I was going to call it a "Palouse" sunset, but it was actually taken in the Spokane Valley.

Retired/Missionary Life. Wednesday.

We took a much needed day to not go anywhere and stay home and get chores done. After reading time, study time, walking time, etc. I put new tabs on all the vehicles, pushed the gravel off the lawn and back onto the driveway (dang snowplow...), put laundry away, trimmed the dog's nails while Hanna distracted them with congs of peanut butter, and <drum roll> worked on the taxes. It still shows us owing $26, which really upsets me (I hate owing them anything...) but I still haven't added in my medical mileage, so that may break it.

In the evening we chilled and watched a pre-recorded football game. Duke vs ASU in the Sun Bowl. Over 1100 yards of offense in a close game. Good watch!

And here! Have a picture of the first thing to bloom this spring. Hanna says it is a Croak Cruss (or something like that.....)

Retired/Missionary Life. Thursday.

Morning was filled with the usual routine things......reading, walking the dogs, studying Spanish, working on a talk I get to give Sunday.

Afternoon we ran to town. I read more in the truck while Hanna went for her monthly neck massage. Then we worshipped in the temple. (Feeling the peace now.......great place to reconnect with God.) BBQ from Dickie's for dinner. And then we spent the evening meeting with the President of our Congregation, discussing how we can better serve folks and what their needs may be. No rain in the forecast for a while, so we actually washed the truck on the way home.

All in a day's service.............

Retired/Missionary Life. Friday.

Today we drove to Silver Valley, then to CDA, then to Hayden, then to Post Falls, inspecting apartments one-by-one along the way until we had inspected five of them. We were filling in for one of our Stewards who had surgery and sick family and couldn't do their inspections. Great day! We saw a bunch of missionaries. ALL passed inspection too!

At one of the apartments, there was a large antler out on the balcony. The Elders said it was given to a missionary who had previously lived there by a member of their congregation and they would assume it be gone now. Wish granted! We took it home. The boys love it!!

One apartment had a ton of mini Jesuses and a tall pyramid thingy of pop boxes. Interesting and amusing.

After all the fun of the visits, we walked on the Centennial Trail at Lake CDA. And we noticed everything turning green on the way home.

As if we hadn't had enough, the Sister Missionaries who serve with us in our congregation came by for dinner. They love us and they love Frivvy and Gussy too!

Great day to be a missionary!!

Retired/Missionary Life. Saturday.

What's better than running into town almost every day? Doing so TWICE in one day!!

Trip one involved us attending our Congregation's Easter Brunch Celebration. Great food, a mix of both American and Latino dishes. And some games, and stories being read to the kiddos. Our younger missionaries (fortunately they didn't ask us to participate.......we're too old for this.........) raced each other with their legs strapped together. It was a valiant effort and great teamwork by both companionships! (Note that no missionaries were harmed in the playing of this contest.......)

Trip two was to worship in the temple. Our congregation had a baptism session scheduled in the evening and we love serving there with them. Great experience!

Any extra time during the day was filled up with study, Spanish, dog walks, and me preparing my talk for tomorrow. And yes, a short nap.